Marker Guide

Methane producing Archaea

What this marker measures

The collective capacity of methanogenic Archaea to produce methane gas.  Methanogens are often mistaken for bacteria, but they belong to Archaea - a distinct domain of microorganisms. Higher methane production is associated with slower intestinal transit and constipation, and may be relevant in patients with constipation, bloating, or abdominal distension^1–3.

Clinical associations

Consider this marker when your patient presents with:

Motility concerns

Constipation, slow gut transit, infrequent bowel motions.

IBS and functional bowel presentations

IBS-C or functional constipation.

GI symptoms

Bloating, abdominal distension, excess gas production.

Interpreting the result

All results are compared to Microba's healthy cohort to determine whether they fall within or outside the expected range.

LOW

Methane-producing potential is lower than expected

This result does not suggest methane-driven slowing of intestinal transit. No intervention needed for this marker.

Within Range

Methane-producing potential is within expected parameters

Methane production is unlikely to be contributing to constipation or slowed transit in isolation.

HIGH

Methane-producing potential is higher than expected

May be associated with slower intestinal transit, constipation, or bloating.
Action: see patient management insights below.

Patient management insights

Reduce methane producing potential and support healthy gut motility.

Dietary strategies

When aiming to reduce methane production, limiting or avoiding resistant starch supplementation may be effective^4,5.
GRADE D

When aiming to reduce methane production, limiting or avoiding inulin supplementation may be effective⁶.
GRACE C

Pomegranate extract supplementation (at least 656 mg phenolics, ~218 mg punicalagin) may reduce methane producing microbes.⁷GRADE D

Supplement Prebiotics

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 may reduce methane production⁸.
GRADE D

When aiming to reduce methane production, limiting or avoiding Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 may be effective.⁹
GRADE D

Tips for patients discussion

"Your report shows elevated levels of methane-producing microorganisms called archaea. These can slow the movement of food through your gut, contributing to constipation and bloating. Adjustments to your fibre intake and specific probiotic support can help address this."

The community

Methane is not produced by a single species, it’s a community-level function. Here are some of the most commonly-detected contributors, however this list is not exhaustive.

Methanobrevibacter_A smithii
Methanosphaera stadtmanae
Methanobrevibacter_A smithii_A
UBA71 MIC8911
UBA71 MIC7051
Methanobrevibacter_A MIC8668
Methanomethylophilus alvus
Methanobrevibacter_A woesei
Methanomassiliicoccus_A MIC7035
Methanomassiliicoccus_A intestinalis
Methanosphaera sp900322125
UBA71 MIC8186
Methanobrevibacter_C arboriphilus_A
UBA71 MIC7141
Methanomethylophilaceae MIC6753
Methanosphaera sp002509095
Methanocorpusculum MIC8834
Methanomassiliicoccus_A MIC7563
Methanomassiliicoccus luminyensis
Methanobacterium formicicum

How results are calculated

All microbiome marker results are compared against the Microba Healthy Cohort — a purpose-built reference group of more than 450 healthy individuals, collected and analysed using the same workflow as patient samples.

Each marker is scored by comparing the patient's relative abundance against the cohort average. The distance from this average is expressed as standard deviations, and determines whether a result is classified as Low, Borderline, or High.

How the result scale works

▲ AVG (Healthy Cohort average)

The patient's relative abundance is compared to the Healthy Cohort average. A negative distance from average means the microbial group is less abundant than the Healthy Cohort. A positive distance means it is more abundant. Results falling outside the expected range are classified as borderline or high/low (borderline high/low:+/-0.68,andhigh/low:+/-1.28).

Evidence grading for patient management insights

The letter grades shown next to each patient management insight show the quality of the research behind it. Every insight provided has been through a rigorous review of the scientific literature and graded using the NHMRC Levels of Evidence, so you can see exactly how strong the evidence is before applying it in practice.

Source references for all clinical associations, interpretation definitions, and patient management insights on this card.

1. Xu, Y. S. et al. Alteration of the faecal microbiota composition in patients with constipation: evidence of American Gut Project. Beneficial Microbes 13, 427–436 (2022).
2. Asnicar, F. et al. Blue poo: impact of gut transit time on the gut microbiome using a novel marker. Gut 70, 1665–1674 (2021).
3. Ghoshal, U., Shukla, R., Srivastava, D. & Ghoshal, U. C. Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Particularly the Constipation-Predominant Form, Involves an Increase in Methanobrevibacter smithii, Which Is Associated with Higher Methane Production. Gut Liver 10, 932–938 (2016).
4. Hughes, R. L. et al. Resistant Starch Type 2 from Wheat Reduces Postprandial Glycemic Response with Concurrent Alterations in Gut Microbiota Composition. Nutrients 13, 645 (2021).
5. van Munster, I. et al. Effect of resistant starch on breath-hydrogen and methane excretion in healthy volunteers. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 59, 626–630 (1994).
6. Fernandes, J., Vogt, J. & Wolever, T. M. S. Inulin increases short-term markers for colonic fermentation similarly in healthy and hyperinsulinaemic humans. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 1279–1286 (2011).
7. González-Sarrías, A. et al. The Endotoxemia Marker Lipopolysaccharide-Binding Protein is Reduced in Overweight-Obese Subjects Consuming Pomegranate Extract by Modulating the Gut Microbiota: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Molecular Nutrition & Food Research 62, 1800160 (2018).
8. Ojetti, V. et al. Effect of Lactobacillus reuteri (DSM 17938) on methane production in patients affected by functional constipation: a retrospective study. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 21, 1702–1708 (2017).
9. Kumar, K., Saadi, M., Ramsey, F. V., Schey, R. & Parkman, H. P. Effect of Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 (Align) on the Lactulose Breath Test for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Dig Dis Sci 63, 989–995 (2018).